The great transition: Political and social change in the Republic of China

This book concerns government and politics in Taiwan under the rule of the Chinese Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang (KMT). The KMT forces, defeated in China's civil war of 1947-49, retreated to Taiwan to form the Republic of China, representing the authority they salvaged from the mainland. The KMT regime has exercised authoritarian rule over the island state and has also claimed sovereign jurisdiction of the mainland for almost four decades. The KMT regime during that time has successfully steered Taiwan toward prosperous economic development. Hung-mao Tien carefully analyzes the political transition that has been under way since 1986.